I stood there with Tigra within my arms, trying my best just to reassure her through that hug, but nothing could take away the pain she was feeling right now.
“You have to find out who did it.” Tigra looked up at me with tears in her eyes, yet they still held that usual determination. “Find the ones that did this to him.”
“I promise, I will,” I nodded. “Dash.”
“Yes Fang,” he stood to attention.
“Once I’ve taken Tigra to my mum’s, can you take me to the tree where they found Gual?” I requested.
“Sure,” nodded Dash.
“Take Zack with you,” demanded Tigra. “He needs this.”
“Alright.” I took Tigra to the bakery, followed by Dash and Zack. Mum had just finished serving someone when I arrived. “Mum, can you look after Tigra.”
“What’s happened?” she asked seeing the tears in Tigra’s eyes as she had continued to cling to me a little.
“Gual has been murdered,” I answered in a low tone.
“What?” Mum was shocked, she took in a breath then approached Tigra. “She’ll be fine with me.” Mum took Tigra by the hand and led her away. Tigra glanced back at me. I felt she might have wanted to say something but remained silent.
I looked at Dash who had walked with me in silence, there behind him just staring silently at me was Zack.
“Dash, can you take me to where Gual was found now?” I asked.
“Alright,” nodded Dash, his eyes sparkling with admiration. I wondered why he was looking at me like that, I had only helped him once.
“Uh…Let’s go,” I tried to get him moving.
“This way.” Dash headed off, walking quite quickly. I’d heard rumours Dash had been born with superspeed from his lightning abilities. I knew Jubatus were fast, but he was on a whole different level. Dash took me to a tree that was on the northside of the castle, within the gardens, not too far from the bridge leading to the orchards. “That’s it.” Dash pointed at one tree in particular, while looking away in a different direction.
“Do you really believe my dad was murdered.” Zack spoke up for the first time since arguing with the other knights about what might have happened to his dad.
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“I do,” I nodded. Zack’s eyes were red with grief, anger, but also confusion. “How can you even prove it? What Dumah says goes, the king may rule Cathopia, but he is nothing more than a puppet, your words meant nothing to him.”
“I beg to differ.” I walked straight up to the tree, thinking about the ability mum had shown when she was asked to search for Daz when she was kidnapped by Beth, perhaps I could do the same here, find out who took his life. “The king may be blinded but I still believe that his kind heart is in there somewhere.” I glanced over at Zack. “I will prove Gual was murdered and find those who killed your dad by retrieving the blade that was meant to be yours.”
“There is nothing here!” shouted Zack. “There is no proof who did it!”
“Trust me,” I smiled.
“I don’t even know you,” snarled Zack.
“He helped me once,” spoke Dash looking over to Zack. “I didn’t know him, he was a complete stranger, but he stood up for me, pushing away those who bullied me.” Zack glared at him. “He helped me, even though I was a stranger, and he’ll do the same for you, just let him try.”
“Try,” snorted Zack.
“There may be no clues here, but there is always something, especially for someone from my clan.” I grinned. “I learnt something knew, a power passed down from my mum. I will use it here; I will see what happened to Gual.”
“What?” Both Dash and Zack looked at me puzzled.
“You’ve never done this before,” commented Raziel. Even though he had only been with me a short time, he already knew all my limits and what powers I had yet to master.
“Nope.” But I had to believe I held all the same abilities my mum held. I would use it to show me what happened to Gual.
“This can be dangerous for those not trained to do so,” mentioned Raziel.
“Have faith in your master,” I grinned, putting my hand on the tree. I felt determined to find the ones who had taken his life, this tree was the focus point, thinking of nothing but Gual. This had to work, it just had to, I believed in Gual.
I felt ashamed I had purposely avoided him for the last few weeks, so I did not have to face what him and mum both expected of me. I didn’t really want to face the darkness they had discussed, expecting me to somehow save the world; I guess I couldn’t ignore it anymore, not after they took the life of such a renowned warrior of Cathopia, Tigra’s Guardian and the first Feles to see the potential in me.
I took a breath in, closing my eyes, pleading with the long past spirit of Gual to show me the truth. ‘Gual show me what happened, let me return your honour and the blade meant for your son.’
I waited patiently for something to happen, feeling the doubtful gaze of Zack upon me. I took another breath, this wasn’t working. I thought by touching the tree it would work, perhaps I needed something more personal, an item perhaps.
“Patience.” I heard Raziel, could he sense my own doubt.
I relaxed my mind wondering a little when I saw images flash in and out of focus, was this it? My whole mind became enveloped by those images, it was a little different from when I saw the past with Larana.
I allowed the images to fill my entire mind, consumed by them, seeing what happened the night Gual died, the night he was killed.